Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-07-23
TRUE TO HIS TRUST.

BY JAMES FRANKLSY

az. r=H. I known upon the
- = ---os - LL1sZ city than his; and his
',- f,4t--I winning demeanor, and
~ - 70 7e9- ties, caused his name al
: - " u IN with respect and esteem.
N - II which / am about to write he
: si1tieth year. His form was
nd his step elastic. His face
N4T fleet index Of the excellence OF
- lcter and the greatness Of his heart,
Il as Of the vigorous intellect of the
Aphshed man Of business. do not
to oYerdraW this picture, but I must
.ish il with the remark that was often
hade by his friends and admirers-that
Mr.. SymingtOn came as near being a
perfect character as was permitted TO hui
manitY.
Perhaps am partial; but that is natural.
He was my bsnefaetor; to his kindness is
due all that have become in life. Left a
penniless orphan, my home at the age Of
eight was in q charitable institution Of
which he was director. Something
shall never know what-attracted his atten-
tion TO me, among the two hundred in
matess upon one OF his frequent visits.
His inquiries about me were soon followed
by my transfer to his own house. 1 believe
/ was not adopted, in the formal sense in
which the word is used. snll retained
my own name, Lambert Wades but was
an inmate Of my patrons house. and was
never made to feel that 1 was dependent
upon his bounty His wife had died some
years before, leaving an infant daughter
Mildred, who was SIX years younger than
myself maiden sister had the care Of
his house, and We four, with the servants,
made the household Later on, another
member was added to it, who Will presently
be introduced.
Time had passed until was seven
teen years old. / had attended the
graded schools, graduating in the &C
ademic department with some honor.
#ofIGgTfwGr Fnmnn
fully installed in Mr.. Symington's
office as his clerk and assistant He carried
on a large real estate and loan business,
which it was said his great capacity had
doubled within the last fifteen years.
Aside from the skilled part of the work,
there we're large ledgers to keep, letters to
write, and much clerical labor to do. All
this he had usually attended to himself,
for the reason that he could not ind a
clerk who exactly suited him. Many were
tried, and after a trial were kindly dis
missed. 1t seemed to me at this time that
he was too exacting in this matter; but a
better insight into his ways led me to a
different opinion. Next after honorable
dealing and industry las he told me with
his own lips, one day, his great success IN
business was due TO care and precision in
ali its methods, and he could not bear a
sloyenly or careless assistant. II needed
the hints 1t was certainly not
thrown away upon me. Aided by my
strong desire to be of service 10 him,
and with a natural liking for the work
speedily mastered all its minor details; and
it was a high qualification to me to find that
all this part of the business was soon
handed over 10 me, and that I was largely
relieving Mr.. SymingtOn by the steadiness
with which / kept my desk. Ny reflections as
TO how / could be OF greater service led me
at this time 10 make a request of him;
which he Immediately granted In explana-
ton of this, few words about the arrange
ment Of the building in which the Office was
situated become necessary.
1t was q small brick, tWo-stOry structure,
which had been built by Mr.. Symington
more than thirty years before, and used by
him for his business ever since. The whole
of the irst-stOry was occupied by the outer
and inner offices. From the inner office
which, as I had been informed, Mr.. Sy-
mingtOn had used for his lodging before
his marriage. 1t was now put to no use.
From this room, without any intervening
hall or passage, there was a door opening
into stOre-room, which occupied the rest
of the upper story. 1t was half filled with
the disused carpets, chairs, mating, and
stove-piDe which had from time to time
been brought up here from the office. My
plan was to have the vacant chamber IN the
rear simply furnished for my use, so that
] could sleep there instead Of at the house.
Walter Brand came to visit Mr.. Syming-
ton. 1 had never heard Of him before, and
now learned that he was the son OF an
elder sister who lived in a distant city.
Walter was very dashing, stylish young
man Of nineteen, who wore the most fash
iOnable clothes, and seemed intent only on
having what he called "a good time" No
one who saw him could help admiring his
upright figure, his regular features, bright
eyes, and curly black hair, and his hearty
laugh, which had an infection Of mirth in
it. Two persons who were more unlike
externally than plain Lambert Wade and
handsome Walter Brand, it would be i'm
possible 10 find. felt attracted by his ap-
pearance, and made efforts to gain his
friendship. To my surprise and mOrtihca-
ZION, he repealed all of them. his CONVEX
sation with me when we met, as Of course
we did several times each days was Of the
buefest; and more than once he gave me a
decided snub. His treatment panied me,
but bore it without remark. was not at
q loss to account for it. His looks and
manner showed me palmer than words
could have told it, that he was angered to
ind another person occupying 50 cOnhden-
tial and trusted relation to his uncle as did.
Three weeks had passed since the arrival
OF this visitor when ] became aware OF a
change IN the usual demeanor Of Mr..
Symington. He was as punctual and in
dustrious as ever at the ofics; but his
more thoughtful and he talked less
with me In the intervals Of business. Being
very little at the house now save at meal
times, / had not fair opportunity TO judge
IL his nephew was connected with his I'M
easiness; but certainly suspected it. My
suspicious were entirely correct About
half-past i've one afternoon, as 1 was
writing at my desk in the outer Office, and
while Mr.. SymingtOn was reading the news
paper in the inner room, Walter came in
and In a tone which was almost abrupt
enough to be rude, asked for his uncle. /
merely pointed with my pen to the private
office. and went on with my work.
/ could not see either OF themi indeed
my eyes were not raised from the large
pages where was making my entries; but
their words came TO me distinctly.
"Uncle, please let me have fifty dollars"
why, Walteri You asked me for as
much as that, and got 1t, only a Few days
ago
self once, uncle and you know that a
young fellow can't have any fun in big
city like this without money"
Il must speak plainly 10 you. Walter
Your conduct has panied me more than i
can tell. You have kept such late hours
that my duty to You compelled me 10 have
you watched; and the report brought to me,
about the places you have frequented and
the company you have kept, has shocked
and distressed me. Ny dear nephew, for
your own sake-for the sake Of your par
ents-for my sake-you must stop this at
once.
1T seems to me you are making a great
deal out of a little, uncle. I'm no worse
than other fellows. We only amuse our
selves in our own way, and don't harm any
one"
sIs it possible, Walter, that you have be-
come so hardened as this talk would shOw2